Cmi7i6cti(yn q/' Plants' •with Soils. 1^ 



where I observed a mass uf this mineral in which the lustre was considerable^ 

 and the dark gr^n colour gave way, for the most part, to a bright yellowish 

 Jbue ; but as the grains of the stone were not fine enough for a good polish, 

 and the fissures in the rock appeared numerous, I am not sure that it could 

 be turned to use in ornamental architecture. This Aberdeenshire serpentine 

 contains asbestus, a substance which, at a former period, was found in such 

 quantity at one of the stations pointed out, viz. Towanreef, that I understand 

 various articles were constructed from it, and I have heard that the father of 

 the present proprietor of Craig, on whose estate the hill, I believe, is situate, 

 had, in his possession, a hat-band made from the asbestus of Towanreef. 



The serpentine tract, of which I have given an imperfect account, contains 

 a substance yet more interesting than asbestus, which may prove of import- 

 ance to the proprietors of the ground, — I mean chromate of iron. Professor 

 Jameson, from the inspection of a small specimen from the Green HUl in 

 Strathdon, expressed an opinion that it contained imbedded grains of the sub- 

 stance just mentioned ; and he added a wish that the district were more par- 

 ticularly examined, with the view of discovering whether the chromate ex- 

 isted in such quantity as to be of practical consequence. Since receiving this 

 communication from the Professor, I have not had an opportunity of making 

 any farther investigation, nor am I a judge of what quantity of the chromate 

 would render its extraction a profitable object. This substance is now well 

 known as assisting to form various articles used in painting, dyeing, and calico- 

 printing ; and its value is so great, that, as I know from good authority, the 

 proprietor of a serpentine tract in Shetland, where chromate of iron was 

 found by Professor Jameson, cleared, in a few years, L. 8000. 



On the ComiecUon of Plants with the Soil on which they grow. 



After these remarks on the face of the country and the rocks, I wish to ob- 

 serve, that not unfrequently I have endeavoured to discover whether, in the 

 comparatively limited tract to which the present observations relate, any de- 

 cided connection could be traced between the native plants and the soils 

 wherein they are found. Few inquiries are more inviting ; and the opinion 

 that a connection of this kind exists, has at least a plausible appearance ; but, 

 after some attentive consideration, I venture to suggest, that there is not in 

 science a more hopeless labour than the attempt to discover an unvarying and 

 necessary relation between most plants and the chemical nature of the soils in 

 which they spontaneously grow. I feel convinced, that, except in point of 

 moistness, compactness, and depths, soils have, in general, no cognizable rela- 

 tion to their native products. This opinion is, on my part, the result of ob- 

 servation ; and it appears, when well examined, no less to accord with reason 

 than experience. Let us survey Britain, for example, and we find the soil, in 

 all places, compose<l mainly of silica, alumina, magnesia, and lime, with acci- 

 dental animal and vegetable impregnations. Now, is it reasonable to expect, 

 that we could, in our present state of knowledge, tiace a general rdation be- 

 tween those few elements of soil, and the highly diversified vegetable products 

 which are indigenous in our island ? Or that we shall ever extend our know- 

 ledge of the intimate nature of soils, or of vegetable fimctions, so far, so very 



